International Student Handbook

International Student Handbook

International Student Handbook

Student Life Office

Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Natick, MA

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Welcome to Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Chapter 2: Pre-Arrival Check List

Chapter 3: Pre-Arrival Information

Chapter 4: Traveling to Campus

Chapter 5: What to Bring

Chapter 6: Residential Life

Chapter 7: Academic Information

Chapter 8: The Arts Program

Chapter 9: Health Services

Chapter 10: Banking and Money

Chapter 11: Communication

Chapter 12: School Vacations and Travel

Chapter 13: Where to go for help

Chapter 14: Practical Information

Chapter 15: Cultural Information

Chapter 1: Welcome to Walnut Hill School for the Arts

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Welcome to Walnut Hill School for the Arts! This handbook provides important information for international students and their families. It is meant to be a supplement to the general Student Handbook; families should read the complete handbook for additional information and policies.

At Walnut Hill we understand that attending school far from home can pose logistical and cultural challenges; our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible and to support students throughout their time here.

Having lived and studied abroad myself, I know how challenging it can be to adjust to a new school and culture. I hope you will agree with me, however, that the benefits outweigh the challenges! My role as the International Program Coordinator is to be a resource for international students and to support them by answering questions, providing information, and working with other members of the school community to ensure that all students feel at home at Walnut Hill. Please stop by my office, call, or email me with any questions or concerns that you have. I look forward to getting to know you soon!

Lauren Johanson

International Program Coordinator

+1 (508) 650-5023

Skype: lejohanson

WeChat: laurenjohansonWH

Office location: Academic Technology Center (ATC) Room 209

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Chapter 2: Pre-Arrival Check List

☐Secure F-1 student visa.

See the travel and immigration requirements packet for complete instructions.

☐Complete Registration Forms.

Parents will receive these forms via email in May.

☐Complete Health Information and Forms on Parent Portal.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Bring the required forms to the appointment. You will need to submit documentation of a physical exam and required immunizationsprior to arriving on campus. After your medical exam, upload the documentation on the Magnus Health Portal

☐Complete Placement Tests.

Completing the math and language placement tests before orientation will help us determine your placement before you arrive on campus.

☐U.S. Cell phone number

All students must have a cell phone with a U.S. number. Set up an account with CampusSIMS (SIM card included) or research other options.

☐Local Bank Account

Researchbanking optionsand decide if you will open a U.S. account.

☐Schedulean appointment with the Health Center.

If you are arriving early and staying in the area, set up an appointment with the Health Center staff to avoid the line on registration day. Email and tell them your arrival date and when you are available to meet.

☐Visit for packing lists, orientation schedule, summer reading requirements, and more!

Chapter 3: Pre-Arrival Information

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Visas

All students who are not U.S. citizens must obtain a F-1 student visa. Please read carefully the instructions included with your Form I-20 to ensure that you have the required documentation ready before the interview. Please note that the consulate will not issue a visa more than four months prior to the program start date listed on the Form I-20. It may take several weeks to schedule an appointment so you should contact the embassy as soon as possible.

Registration Forms

Parents will receive an email with a link to the online forms. The registration forms include course selection, dorm preferences, parent permissions, and contact information. Please review the following points before completing the registration forms.

Course Selection - In the Course Selection section, students select which courses they are interested in taking. Schedules will not be finalized until orientation and all placement tests are taken. Please refer to Chapter 7 (Academic Information) for more details about academics at Walnut Hill. Email the Walnut Hill Registrar () or the Director of Academic Studies () with any questions regarding course selection.

Student Information – Students are asked to provide a local cell phone number, so we suggest setting up a Campus SIMs cell phone account before filling out these forms. If you choose a different service provider, you must share your cell phone number with the International Program Coordinator as soon as possible.

Family Contact Information – Walnut Hill uses email as the primary means of communication with families. It is essential that we have accurate email addresses for parents and guardians.

Local Contact – We highly recommend that international families have an emergency contact or guardian living in the United States who speaks English. Guardians will be included on all school correspondence and listed as an additional emergency contact.

Parent Permissions – Students need permission from parents to do the following things:

  • Drive with Anyone—anyone includes Walnut Hill students, faculty and staff but it also includes anyoneoutside of the School.
  • Drive with Dorm Parents/Staff—an example of this would be for field trips and doctor visits.
  • Drive with Students—there are many day students who drive to campus each day and sometimes groupsof kids want to go to lunch or out somewhere, so we would need parental permission to allow students todrive in a car with other students.
  • Drive with Walnut Hill Parents – any parent of students from Walnut Hill
  • Drive with a Specific List of People—some parents want to limit the driving permissions to only a fewpeople; a list can be provided.
  • Go to Boston—Students have permission to travel to metro Boston (including but not limited to Newton,Brookline, Allston, Brighton, Roslindale, South Boston, Dorchester).Students are not allowed to go into Boston on weekdays.
  • Take a Taxi—students with taxi permissions can call/ride in a taxi or other car service to their desireddestinations.
  • Take Public Transportation —students can ride on public transportation (subways, buses and commuterrail) to all areas accessible by such transportation.

Parents that grant the permissions assume all risks associated with them.The list of granted permissions will be given to the Dorm Parents and Student Life staff.

Health Information

All students must complete the health information and provide documentation of a physical exam and immunizations prior to arriving on campus. Any student who arrives without complete immunization records will not be allowed to register or move into a dormitory.

  1. Schedule a physical exam with your doctor;
  2. Print the required forms and bring them to the appointment;
  3. Make sure to get all of the required immunizations (see list below);
  4. After the exam, upload the documents and complete the additional information on the Magnus Health Portal (see link on Walnut Hill Parent Portal). Parents will receive an email with their log-in information. Please contact if you have trouble logging in.

Health forms are due by August 1st.

Required immunizations:

DTap (Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis)*4 doses DTaP or 3 doses TD plus 1 dose Tdap

Polio3 doses

MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)2 doses

Hepatisis B3 doses

Varicella 2 doses

Meningitis1 dose

Tuberculin (TB) Test**1 test(international students only)

*We are aware that the DTap vaccine is not always available in China. Please complete the other requirements, and we will schedule this vaccine for you when you arrive on campus.

**The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires a TB test for all individuals not born in the United States. This is not a routine test.Please request this test from your doctor.

Health Insurance

International students are automatically enrolled in the school’s 12-month health insurance plan. The plan covers primary care services , emergencies/ambulatory services , surgical services, hospitalization benefits , specialist services , mental health services , and prescription drug coverage.

The nurses will enroll students over the summer; students will receive their health insurance card within the first week of school. Parents will see the amount for health insurance on their first bill.

Pre-Registration Meeting with the Health Center

All students must meet with the Health Center staff on registration day to review health information and any medications. The Health Center is usually very busy on registration day. If you arrivein the area a few days before registration, you can avoid the line on registration day and schedule a meeting with a school nurse in advance. Email and let them know when you are arriving and when you can meet with them.

Cell Phones

All Walnut Hill students are required to have a U.S. cell phone number. With busy schedules, off-campus lessons, and travel, the school must be able to reach the students by cell phone at all times. We highly recommend using CampusSIMS as your cell phone service provider. The plans are easy to use –Simply download the app on your phone to set up the account and select a phone number. Students can share the number with parents, family, and the school before leaving home. Upon arrival in the U.S.,insert the SIM card into your phone and activate it to make and receive calls instantly. You can suspend or cancel the service at any time.

An alternativeoption is to purchase a pay-as-you go plan (SIM card) when you arrive in the U.S. These cards can be purchased at stores such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. If you purchase a U.S. SIM card, we recommend setting up automatic payments in order to avoid any disruption in service.

Chapter 4: Traveling to Campus

We strongly recommend that a parent accompany the student to registration. We suggest that you arrive a few days before registration and stay in a local hotel to allow time to recover from jet lag. The first week of school is very busy, and students want to be well rested and ready to engage in all of the activities. Once orientation begins, students are expected to be on-campus full time, and parents are expected to leave at the end of registration day.

Walnut Hill School for the Arts is in the town of Natick, approximately 17 miles west of the city of Boston.The best ways to get to Natick from Logan Airport are:

  • Taxi from Logan Airport (approximately $100)
  • Logan Express Bus – The Logan Express provides non-stop bus service between Logan Airport and the town of Framingham (10 minutes from campus). Buses depart every 30 minutes. A round-trip ticket is $22 per adult ($12 each way) and can be purchased on the bus. Children under 17 are free. Travel time is approximately 30-45 minutes.Website:

Local Accommodation
The hotels below are within a few miles of campus and offer free local transportation.

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The Hampton Inn
319 Speen Street
Natick, MA 01760
+1 508-653-5000

Courtyard Marriott
342 Speen Street
Natick, MA 01760
+1 508-655-6100

The Verve Hotel Crowne Plaza
1360 Worcester Street
Natick, MA 01760

+1 508-653-8800

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Traveling to the U.S.

When you travel to the United States, you must carry these important items with you:

  • Travel documents (passport, visa, Form I-20)
  • Walnut Hill contract
  • Proof of financial support (bank statements)
  • Receipt of SEVIS payment made online

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Here are some tips about traveling through U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

  • Traveling with money: Travelers are allowed to bring as much money as they want in or out of the United States. However, if the amountis more than $10,000 (or the equivalent in any currency), you must declare it to the customs official on the Currency Reporting Form. If declared, this money, regardless of amount, will not be taxed or fined.

PLEASE NOTE: A family traveling together is considered one unit and must declare any amount of money over $10,000. Only one family member should carry the money; do not divide it among travelers.

  • Prohibited or restricted items: Travelers must declare all food (meat, fruit, cheese, etc.) and agricultural products that they bring into the United States. There are many items that are prohibited or restricted from entering the U.S. in order to protect the environment and reduce the spread of disease to plants and animals. Restricted items may be confiscated at customs if they are not declared and travelers may receive a fine. Commonly confiscated items include:
  • Fish and meats
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Products made from plant or animal materials

Chapter 5: What to Bring

Clothing

It is important to consider the weather when deciding what clothes to bring. Massachusetts experiences four distinct seasons, and the temperature can range from warm 80° F (27° C) to cold 0° F (-18° C). It is a good idea to bring clothes that you can layer (for example, a T-shirt for warm weather; in colder weather you can wear a long-sleeved shirt and sweater over it).

During the winter you will need a very warm coat, hat, gloves or mittens, scarf, and warm, waterproof boots to protect you from the cold, wind, and snow. Remember that the buildings on campus are spread out, and you will need to dress warmly for the walk from your dorm to your classes. If you are coming from a warm climate and do not own clothing for cold weather, you can purchase these items in the U.S. in the fall.

Suggested clothing to bring:

  • Sweaters, jackets
  • Long and short-sleeved shirts, blouses
  • Underwear, thick and thin socks, tights
  • Skirts, dresses
  • Pants, jeans, sweats, shorts
  • Mittens, hat, scarf, waterproof boots, shoes (dress and casual), slippers, good winter boots
  • Warm winter coat, raincoat
  • Pajamas
  • Sneakers and clothing for exercise
  • National or traditional dress for special events or international dinners

Many students bring personal items from home such as pictures of family or friends, posters, favorites books or music, mementos or keepsakes, traditional instruments. Bring anything that would make you feel more at home.

Dorm Room Items

Each dorm room contains:

  • A bed (the size of the bed is Twin XL; mattress dimensions are 39 inches wide by 80 inches long)
  • A dresser for your clothes
  • A desk, chair and bookshelf for schoolwork and books
  • A closet or wardrobe to hang clothes (the closet is usually shared with your roommate(s))

The following items can be purchased at reasonable prices in the area, and we suggest you wait to buy them until you arrive. You can visit the websites for Target, Wal-Mart, and Bed Bath and Beyond to compare prices. In addition, during orientation, we will hold a “Swap Shop” where students will have the chance to pick out items (for free!) that are no longer being used by other students. In the Swap Shop you can get things like hangers, trash cans, small fans, desk lamps, and storage bins.

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Essential dorm room items:

  • Extra-long twin sheets
  • Blankets or comforter
  • Pillows
  • Towels
  • Bathrobe and shower shoes
  • Personal hygiene items and container to carry them to and from the bathroom
  • Laundry supplies—detergent, laundry bag or hamper
  • Hangers
  • A battery back-up alarm clock
  • Small desk lamp
  • Small wastebasket
  • Power strip with surge protection
  • Personal plate, mug, bowl, cup, and silverware
  • A small fan

Extra things you can bring:

  • Throw rug
  • Curtains
  • Radio/iPod dock
  • Flashlight
  • Computer/printer

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Heated hair appliances:

Heated hair appliances including hair dryers, heated rollers, straighteners, and curling irons are allowed but must be kept in the provided baskets in the dorm bathrooms at all times.

Items you are NOT allowed to have in the dorm:

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  • Medication of any kind (all medications MUST be kept at the Health Center)
  • Power strips without surge protection
  • TV / Video game consoles / monitors
  • Microwaves
  • Cooking or heating appliances
  • Coffeemakers or electric kettles
  • Irons
  • Incense or candles
  • Matches or lighters
  • Pets, including fish
  • Empty alcoholic beverage containers
  • Lava lamps
  • Electric blankets
  • Halogen lamps
  • Holiday or other string lights

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School Supplies

  • Backpack or book bag
  • Notebooks, binders, pens, pencils

Computers

  • We recommend, but do not require, that you bring your own computer to school. We recommend a laptop.
  • If you don't have a computer, there are public computers and printers available. No teachers will require that you have your own.
  • We do not make specific recommendations in terms of brand, operating system, or other features.
  • Most of the academic work is online so even relatively inexpensive machines like Chromebooks will be fine. You are not required to have any specific programs or software.

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Chapter 6: Residential Life

Residential life is a large part of the boarding experience. Walnut Hill strives to make its dormitories welcoming, safe, and happy “homes away from home” for students from all over the country and the world.

Dorm Parents

Dorm parents are adult members of the campus community who provide supervision and support to the students in their dorms. Many dorm parents are Walnut Hill faculty or staff members; some are married and have children of their own. Students interact with their dorm parents on a daily basis. Parents are encouraged to meet their child’s Dorm Parents at orientation and to contact them throughout the year.A list of the names and telephone numbers of Dorm Parents is sent to parents at the start of the school year.